Saint John hotel and complex faces strike

About 100 workers at Brunswick Square in Saint John, N.B., are close to taking strike action.

They are members of the United Steelworkers and include housekeepers and kitchen staff at the Delta Brunswick hotel, maintenance workers at the shopping centre, and parking garage attendants.

The workers had a contract with Brunswick Square owner Fortis Properties, which expired June 30.

Collective bargaining has been underway since then and a strike vote was taken this week.

Lawrence McKay, the Atlantic coordinator for the United Steelworkers Union, said unionized members are prepared to face a possible work stoppage.

"Members are strong, they're fed up. It's time for the company to take them seriously," McKay said. "This is a unionized workforce and they want the representation and the respect that they deserve."

McKay said the outstanding points of contention are wages, benefits and union representation.

Conciliation talks continued Thursday.

McKay said if an agreement has not been reached by Thursday night, union members could be on the picket line as early as this weekend.